Born To Die Part 2 Series

JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE

Born to Die Part 2 of 3

LUKE 23:44-49

#borntodie

CHRISTMAS SERIES INTRODUCTION

As Christians, there are some distinct truths that we believe in and because of those beliefs there are philosophies or ways of thinking about life and living we DO NOT believe in. Let me give you several examples.

* Christians do not believe in karma: We do not believe that there is an impersonal force creating balance between good and evil in this life and with our previous lives.

* Christians do not believe in destiny: We do not believe that life is a series of disconnected or even connected coincidences that create a person’s direction in life or their fortune.

* Christians do not believe in fate: We do not believe in a predetermined set of actions or course that creates an unchangeable future that happens no matter what.

Well, Christians do not believe in karma or destiny or fate, what do we believe in when it comes to life and living? We believe in the will of the Eternal Holy God Almighty the Undisputed Righteous Maker of Heaven and Earth Who is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Christians believe in God’s eternal will. It is God’s eternal will that sets forth what will happen on the eternal stage and within our lives for certain because His will is done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Some things are immovable points of existence because it is the will of God. Christians also believe in God’s permissive will. It is God’s permissive will that allows free-will and choice and chance to exist, but never outside of His sight or prevue to intervene because nothing is ever out of God’s control. Some things are up to us and happen out of our control because God allows it in His permissive will.

Today we are continuing our march towards Christmas 2023, but we are going to continue to work our way through the Gospel of Luke chapter by chapter (as we have been doing for 22 weeks!). We have two chapters left in Luke and we have two weeks until Christmas. That is not happenstance, but by design. For the next two weeks, we will dig into Jesus and the undisputed fact that it was God’s will that Jesus was born to die. Jesus was born to die.

THE RABBIT STORY (p)

Once upon a time, there was a big fluffy rabbit with two big ears and a huge fluffy tale. A cute rabbit. An innocent rabbit. Normal in every respect except it was the hugest rabbit ever born. Biggest eyes anyone had ever seen. Biggest feet anyone had ever seen. A big ol’ rabbit. This rabbit decided to take a walk down the street of his town. It was a nice day for a walk.

The rabbit started down the street and was enjoying his walk. He greeted his neighbors and they greeted him. He got to the end of his block and the neighbor that lived closest to him was sitting in his front yard… just sitting there in the grass looking dejected and sad. “What is the matter neighbor?” the big ol’ rabbit asked.

The neighbor looked up with sadness. “I have had a run of bad luck. Now I know it was my own fault. My wife left me. My children don’t like me. My truck broke down. Even my dog died. Yes, my life is a sad country music song.” Now as the neighbor was telling the tale of his woes and bad luck, he began to get a small smile on his face.

“Gosh,” the rabbit said in response, “I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

“Well,” the neighbor said getting up on his feet and eyeing the rabbit’s feet, “you know rabbit’s feet bring good luck. Everybody knows you are the biggest rabbit ever born and so the good luck one of your feet would bring me is worth two lifetimes.”

The rabbit stared.

The neighbor stared.

“Yes, I will.”

With that, the neighbor cut off one of the rabbit’s feet and reveled in his newfound luck. He went back in his house as happy as he could be leaving the three-legged rabbit in his front yard. The rabbit hopped on three legs down the street and continued his walk through the town. More neighbors saw him and greeted the ol’ rabbit.

The rabbit got a few blocks down the street and some other neighbors were on their porch. They were crying and trying to console one another. “What is the matter neighbors?” the big ol’ rabbit asked.

The neighbors looked up with tears in their eyes. “Our roof is leaky. Every time it rains the water leaks into our house and drives us crazy! We cannot fix our roof. It drizzles. It drips. It drops. A big rain is coming tomorrow and we don’t know what to do!” Now as the neighbors were explaining about their roof, they began to get small smiles on their faces.